Kalanchoe plant named ‘Jenna’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Kalanchoe  plant named ‘Jenna’, characterized by its upright, uniform and moderately vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform, freely and early flowering habit; relatively large white-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Jenna’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofKalanchoe, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Jenna’.

The new Kalanchoe is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Hinnerup, Denmark. The objective of the breedingprogram is to create new freely-flowering Kalanchoe cultivars withattractive foliage and flower coloration.

The new Kalanchoe originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in Hinnerup, Denmark in March, 2002, of the Kalanchoeblossfeldiana cultivar Simone 2000, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.12,319, as the female, or seed, parent with the Kalanchoe blossfeldianacultivar Hillary, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,798, as the male,or pollen, parent. The cultivar Jenna was discovered and selected by theInventor as a flowering plant from within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled environment in Hinnerup, Denmark inMarch, 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kalanchoe by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled environment in Hinnerup, Denmark since July,2003, has shown that the unique features of this new Kalanchoe arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Jenna has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature,daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Jenna’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Jenna’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofKalanchoe:

-   -   1. Upright, uniform and moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   2. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   3. Uniform, freely and early flowering habit.    -   4. Relatively large white-colored flowers.    -   5. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, the cultivar Simone 2000. In side-by-side comparisons conductedin Hinnerup, Denmark, plants of the new Kalanchoe differed from plantsof the cultivar Simone 2000 in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe were more compact and less        vigorous than plants of the cultivar Simone 2000.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Kalanchoe had doubly-crenate        margins whereas leaves of plants of the cultivar Simone 2000 had        crenate margins.    -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe were more freely flowering than        plants of the cultivar Simone 2000.    -   4. Plants of the new Kalanchoe flowered about three days earlier        than plants of the cultivar Simone 2000.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the maleparent, the cultivar Hillary. In side-by-side comparisons conducted inHinnerup, Denmark, plants of the new Kalanchoe differed from plants ofthe cultivar Hillary in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had larger flowers than plants of        the cultivar Hillary.    -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe were more freely flowering than        plants of the cultivar Hillary.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can also be compared to plants of theKalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Rosemary, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat.No. 11,823. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hinnerup, Denmark,plants of the new Kalanchoe differed from plants of the cultivarRosemary primarily in flower color as plants of the cultivar Rosemaryhad white-colored flowers with rose pink-colored centers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Kalanchoe, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Kalanchoe.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plan of ‘Jenna’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a top perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘Jenna’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The photographs and following observations, measurements and valuesdescribe plants grown in Hinnerup, Denmark in a glass-covered greenhouseduring the spring and under conditions which closely approximatecommercial production. During the production of the plants, daytemperatures were about 19° C., night temperatures were about 21° C. andlight levels ranged from 10 kilolux to 50 kilolux. Unrooted cuttingswere directly stuck in 10-cm containers and received long day/shortnight conditions (more than 14 hours of light) for about two weeks;plants then received photoinductive short day/long night conditions(minimum 14 hours darkness) until flowering. Plants were about 15 weeksold when the photographs and the description were taken. In the detaileddescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Jenna.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar            Simone 2000, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,319.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar            Hillary, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,798.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About two to three weeks at            temperatures of 19° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 21 to 24 days at            temperatures of 19° C. to 21° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant habit.—Upright, uniform and moderately vigorous growth            habit. Very freely flowering with numerous compound cymes.            Inverted triangle with rounded crown. Appropriate for 6-cm            to 10-cm containers.        -   Plant height at flowering.—About 22 cm.        -   Plant diameter at flowering.—About 20 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Usually about four to five lateral branches            develop per plant. Pinching (removal of the terminal apex)            is not required but will enhance lateral branch development.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 10 cm to 13 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 4 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1 cm to 3 cm.        -   Aspect.—Erect.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color.—147B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; generally symmetrical.        -   Length, vegetative plants.—About 8 cm to 10 cm.        -   Width, vegetative plants.—About 7 cm to 10 cm.        -   Length, generative plants.—About 3 cm to 6 cm.        -   Width, generative plants.—About 1 cm to 4 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Rounded.        -   Margin.—Doubly crenate; undulate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Glabrous; leathery;            succulent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing and fully developed foliage, upper            surface: 147A; venation, 147A. Developing and fully            developed foliage, lower surface: 147C; venation, 147C.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm to 7 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper surface: 147A. Color, lower surface: 147C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single flowers arranged singly            in compound dichasial cymes that arise from leaf axils.            Uniform and freely flowering habit with usually about 33 to            100 open flowers and flower buds per inflorescence. Flowers            not persistent. Flowers not fragrant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Kalanchoe            initiate and develop flowers under short day/long night            conditions or during the late autumn/winter/early spring.            Flower initiation and development can also be induced under            artifical short day/long night conditions (at least 14 hours            of darkness).        -   Time to flower.—Early flowering habit; under short day/long            night photoinductive conditions, about 69 days are required.            Actual time to flower is primarily dependent upon            temperature and light intensity.        -   Post-production longevity.—Excellent post-production            longevity; plants maintain good foliage and flower substance            for about six weeks under interior environmental conditions.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 8 cm to 10 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 7 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 2.3 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 1 cm.        -   Flower bud.—Shape: Initially lanceolate, becoming ovate with            development. Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Color: 145C.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Four fused at the base. Lobe length:            About 1.2 cm. Width: About 8 mm. Shape: Rounded obovate.            Apex: Cuspidate. Margin: Entire to crenate; undulate.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            When opening, upper surface: 155A. When opening, lower            surface: 155A; towards the center, tinged with green. Fully            opened, upper surface: 155D. Fully opened, lower surface:            155D; towards the center, tinged with green.        -   Sepals.—Appearance: Four fused at the base. Length: About            9 mm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Lanceolate, linear. Apex:            Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth; glabrous. Color, immature, upper and lower surfaces:            144A. Color, mature, upper and lower surfaces: 144A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2 cm to 6 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm            to 4 mm. Aspect: Erect to about 60° from vertical. Strength:            Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 147A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2 mm to 5 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm            to 2 mm. Aspect: Erect to about 90° from vertical. Strength:            Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 147A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: About eight            per flower. Anther shape: Elliptic to oblong. Anther size:            About 1 mm by 1 mm. Anther color: 20B. Amount of pollen:            Moderate. Pollen color: 20B. Gynoecium: Pistil number: About            four per flower. Pistil length: About 1.1 cm. Style length:            About 2 mm. Style color: 145A. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma            color: 145A. Ovary color: Close to 144B.        -   Seed.—Length: Less than 1 mm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm.            Color: 145C.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have been    observed to tolerate temperatures from about 5° C. to about 30° C.-   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been    observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to    Kalanchoes.

1. A new and distinct Kalanchoe plant named ‘Jenna’ as illustrated anddescribed.